We want to hear how your post is supporting the veteran suicide prevention mission and saving lives.
American Legion posts are fulfilling the organization’s Be the One mission to prevent veteran suicide in a variety of ways. Posts are being the one for veterans in their community by making Buddy Checks, hosting monthly coffee gatherings, holding resource events to show what local and national services for mental health, housing or food are available, providing free suicide prevention training through VA S.A.V.E. or the Legion’s partnership with Columbia University, conducting 5K walks and runs to bring awareness to the mission, and much more.
There’s often a Be the One story of a life saved that’s a result of American Legion posts opening its doors for veterans whether it’s over coffee, during a walk or at a resource event . And we want to hear those stories.
If your American Legion post has a Be the One story to share, please email crichardson@legion.org or visit legiontown.org and share under the Be the One category.
While at the recent National Membership Workshop in Indianapolis, Department of New Hampshire Commander Myron Crossley received a phone call from the Auxiliary unit president of his post. “She was in tears because she didn't know what to do. Somebody had called her and said, ‘I know of this young gentleman who is really struggling hard right now. He has no place to go. He doesn't know what to do. And his wife is very worried, so are his friends.”
Crossley located the veteran’s contact information from MyLegion.org and called the post commander near him. Thankfully, the post commander lived right down the street from the veteran in crisis. “The post commander that day went to his house to make sure he was OK. The next day a service officer followed up to make sure that gentleman was OK. So that is one of the ways that we can have the Be the One mission portrayed through the whole family.
“And now he feels the camaraderie of the post and he feels welcome and he has somebody to turn to. So it's a success. It really is. It's a win for us. And for me personally, it's a great win because I speak to the Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the Legion and the Riders about the Be the One program. So she (Auxiliary unit president) knew who to call and get help that she needed.”
The also resulted in the Auxiliary member signing up for a Be the One suicide prevention training with the Columbia Protocol.
“She asked me, ‘How can I get the training myself to better facilitate this next time. So I know what to say. I was scared I was not going to say the right thing, or I was going to say the wrong thing, or I wasn't going to do the right thing.’ So she is already enrolled in one of the Be the One trainings.”
Be the One certificate
As a reminder, The American Legion has created a Be the One recognition certificate for a post, district or department to present to a Legion Family member or post for their efforts in advancing the Be the One mission. The certificate is a fillable PDF that can be downloaded, customized, printed and framed.
1. Visit legion.org/betheone/resources. The Be the One certificate is located under Other Resources.
2. Click on the certificate to download. The certificate will be located in the downloads folder on your desktop, or appear in the top right corner of the computer screen.
3. Customize the certificate by clicking on the highlighted boxes.
4. Print and frame.
- Dispatch